Sexual Offences
Indecent Images and Online Sexual Offending
This team is led by Andrew Ford who is a recognised expert in dealing with this complex area of criminal law.
Facing charges for indecent images?
What Does UK Law Say About Indecent Images?
UK law distinguishes between possessing indecent images and making them. Indecent images are classified into three categories. Category A is the most severe, and includes images involving any form of penetrative sexual activity, sexual activity involving an animal, or sadism. Category B involves images of non-penetrative sexual activity. Finally, Category C, the least strict, includes other indecent images not covered by Categories A or B.
- Possession of indecent images means that the images are in the "custody" or "control" of the accused, meaning they can access or retrieve the images. The accused must be aware that they possess the images.
- Making indecent images involves production and distribution. An indecent image can be made when someone downloads it from the internet, which could happen deliberately or accidentally when visiting a webpage. Therefore, someone could make an indecent image without knowing they were doing so.
This area of law is particularly complex, so getting specialist advice from an experienced solicitor is critical. If you’ve been accused of making or possessing indecent images, Holborn Adams can help.
What is the Indecent Images Investigation Process in the UK?
Investigations of this type are often very drawn out since electronic devices need to be analysed to obtain evidence of the alleged offending. At Holborn Adams, our approach is to use this time productively and proactively to build a case on behalf of our client.
The goal varies from case to case, but our network of partners in the area allows us to establish a robust defence regardless of the goal. Our partners include therapeutic organisations, digital forensic experts, mental health experts and many more.
Nevertheless, the damage caused by an investigation of this type is palpable. The consequences often include employment being terminated, social services involvement and a significant negative impact on the mental health of the suspect and their family. Together with the relevant experts, we can assist with these consequences and form arguments to prevent our clients from being charged.
When the Crown Prosecution Service are considering charges, it is not enough to simply satisfy the evidential test (that is, there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction). The CPS must also be satisfied that a prosecution is required in the public interest. Holborn Adams can help consider those relevant public interest arguments and out-of-court disposals that may spare further damage to our client.
Holborn Adams also considers the impact of potential ancillary Orders such as the Notification Requirement (commonly referred to as the “sex offenders register”) and Sexual Harm Prevention Orders.
We cover all offences including:
- Indecent images (possession, making, distribution and production)
- Sexual communication with a child
- Causing/inciting sexual activity with a child
- Grooming
- Arranging or commissioning a child sex offence
Holborn Adams Are Experts in Indecent Image Representation
Our significant experience in this area means that we are well placed to proactively defend our clients before charge and, should our client have already been charged, ensure that they achieve the best possible outcome at Court.
The results we have achieved in this area include many examples of cases which have been subject to No Further Action (NFA) and conditional cautions despite evidence of indecent images and online “chat offences” being recovered by the police.
Holborn Adams’ expertise includes assessing the integrity of the investigation (whether it is from the police or by “vigilante” organisations). This is crucial, as there are often investigative errors such as entrapment, invalid warrants, and errors in the methodology of obtaining evidence from electronic devices.
What People Say About Holborn Adams
“Andrew Ford and the Holborn Adams team are genuine experts in this complex legal area of online sexual offending. Not only that, Andrew and the team are compassionate and form excellent relationships with their clients which is essential given the time these investigations take”
“Andrew is a hugely knowledgeable practitioner in this area”
Our Fees
Fixed fee defence
Our team will give you a free, no-obligation quote after your initial consultation. We offer a fixed fee service, free of any hidden extra costs. Our firm is exclusively privately-funded meaning we cannot accept any legal aid clients. Your fees secure you a top-tier team and top-tier treatment, covering
Dedicated, experienced legal team.
Ability to get your case dropped before charges.
Representation at interviews and court hearings.
Requests to vary bail conditions where required.
Negotiating with police or prosecutors
Referrals to various support services.
We’re here to help
Frequently asked questions
Here are some answers to our most commonly asked questions - for tailored support with your case, please call us now for a free initial consultation.
Yes - we are proudly accredited by the two largest governing legal bodies in the UK, the Law Society and Legal 500. We are also regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
We have hundreds of client testimonials listed on our website, in addition to reviews on independent review platforms TrustPilot, Google Reviews, and Review Solicitors.
Every case is different. After your initial consultation, we’ll determine which services are best for your defence, and calculate a fixed fee quote for you. The price depends on the complexity of the case, how long it will take, which team members are best for the case, and whether we need to instruct specialists. We do not charge by the hour - only a fixed fee for your whole defence.
When you phone us, you’ll have an initial consultation with a member of our legal team on a completely confidential basis. They will listen to your case and may ask additional questions to get as much detail as possible so the team can decide whether they are the best fit for you. We cannot give exact costs, a timeline, or suggestions on how to proceed in this initial call.After this, they will give your case details to the rest of the team and someone will be in touch with you with a no-obligation fixed fee quote for representation, and some ideas for next steps (such as pre-charge engagement, police interview representation, and similar). It is then up to you whether you’d like to accept the quote and proceed to formally instruct Holborn Adams.
Yes, your initial phone consultation is free of charge. After this, we will give you a free, no-obligation fixed fee quote for using our services.
Yes, when you call us, your call is 100% confidential.
We have a member of our legal team available to speak 24/7, 365 days a year. Whenever you need to speak to someone, you will be connected instantly. All calls are 100% confidential.
No - we are a 100% privately funded firm, meaning we charge a fixed fee for our services. We do not take on legal aid cases. We find that focusing on private cases only allows us to dedicate more time and resources to defending our clients to a much higher degree than firms who are stretched thin by intense legal aid caseloads.
Yes - and it is our ultimate goal with all cases that come to us pre-charge. We believe in a proactive approach, working with you to build a defence that encourages prosecutors and the CPS to drop the case with no further action. Please speak to us as soon as you become aware there are allegations against you. The earlier you reach out, the better.
To decide whether any firm is best to handle your case, you should be asking yourself some key questions:
- How are they funded? - We are a privately funded firm meaning we take on cases for a fixed fee, with no options for legal aid. Some firms are legal aid only or a mix of private defence and legal aid. For the highest level of attention and case preparation, you are best seeking a 100% private firm like us, as we are not stretched thin by a caseload of Government-funded cases.
- Expertise - Our solicitors have diverse experience defending every type of criminal offence. We are, however, specialists in pre-charge defence, fraud, sexual offences, and regulatory investigations, so if your case falls under these categories, we are confident we can secure the best outcome for you.
- Location - We have offices all over the world. We can travel to you and offer remote conferencing services to make things easiest for you.
- Reviews - Our client testimonials speak for themselves. You’ll see hundreds of glowing reviews on our website, as well as on independent review sites like Review Solicitors, Google Reviews, and TrustPilot.
Trusted by clients
Top-rated legal defence and client care
Our clients feel supported, not just in their legal defence, but as individuals facing challenging times. We provide expert representation as well as the guidance, emotional support, and resources they need, which is why we consistently receive glowing reviews.
